Yuri
Onufriyenko and Yuri
Usachyov performed the first
EVA on March 15, 1996 (5h 51m). The cosmonauts
installed the STRELA telescopic boom.

Space Shuttle
STS-76 docked with
MIR space station on March 24, 1996.The flight was
the third Shuttle mission to dock with the Russian Space Station
MIR, as part of the Shuttle-MIR Program, carrying astronaut Shannon
Lucid to the orbital laboratory. She remained aboard the
orbiting station and joined as
Research Cosmonaut the
21st MIR
resident crew crew until Atlantis again
docks to
MIR in early September 1996 (STS-79).

During the common flight of
STS-76 and
MIR Linda
Godwin and Michael
Cliffordperformed an
EVA on March 27, 1996 (6h 2m) to attach the MIR Environmental Effects Payload (MEEP), including 4 different experiments, onto
handrails located on the
MIRDocking
Module. The spacewalk was the first ever performed from the docked Space
Shuttle and
MIR complex.The Simplified Aid For
EVA
Rescue (SAFER), first test-flown on shuttle mission
STS-64 in September 1994, were worn by
Linda Godwin and Michael
Clifford and were used only for a contingency. Spacewalking
equipment to be evaluated consisted of several new tether designs with hooks
that can be attached to both space shuttle handrails and to
MIR space station handrails. Normal space shuttle
tether hooks are not large enough to be connected to the
MIR handrails. A U.S. camera mounted on the exterior
of the
MIRdocking
module, used during STS-74 to align
the module as it was permanently docked to the
MIR, also were removed by the spacewalkers and
returned to Earth for reuse.Prior to beginning the spacewalk, the hatches
of both Atlantis and the
MIR were closed at the docking mechanism. A hatch at
the end of the shuttle tunnel adapter also was closed, allowing only the
airlock and tunnel to be depressurized. All of the shuttle crew members were in
Atlantis' crew cabin for the duration of the spacewalk, and all
MIR crew members, including
MIR-21 crewmember
Shannon Lucid, were aboard the
MIR.Linda
Godwin and Michael
Clifford removed the four
MEEP experiment containers from their stowed positions
along the right and left sides of Atlantis' cargo bay. Each experiment
container was attached to handrails on the exterior of the
docking
module using special clamps installed by Linda
Godwin and Michael
Clifford. After each experiment package was clamped to the
appropriate module handrails, the spacewalkers unfolded the packages to expose
the experiment panels.The tools evaluated were called Common US/Russian
EVA
tools and included safety tethers with larger hooks to allow attachment to the
MIR's exterior handrails and a new foot restraint also
designed to allow attachment to the
MIR fixtures.To remove the
Docking
Module television camera, the spacewalkers used cable cutters to sever the
cable connecting the camera and then turned a knob that released the camera's
mounting. The camera was tethered and taken aboard
Atlantis.

During five days of
docked operations, about 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms) of water and two tons of
scientific equipment, logistical material and resupply items transferred to
MIR; experiment samples and miscellaneous equipment
brought over to orbiter. In Biorack, 11 separate scientific investigations were
conducted. Study topics included effect of microgravity and cosmic radiation on
plants, tissues, cells, bacteria and insects and effects of microgravity on
bone loss. Also transferred to station were MIR Glovebox Stowage (MGBX) equipment to replenish
glovebox already on station; Queen's University Experiment in Liquid
Diffusion (QUELD) flown in orbiter middeck locker; and High Temperature
Liquid Phase Sintering (LPS) experiment.

Payload bay configuration
included Orbiter Docking System in forward area and SPACEHAB single module
toward the aft. STS-76 began a series of
Shuttle-MIR missions that carried a SPACEHAB module onboard.
Over the course of these missions, SPACEHAB modules carried a mix of supplies
and scientific equipment to and from
MIR.On STS-76, the SPACEHAB module was in a single module
configuration, similar to previous SPACEHAB missions. In addition to the
Spacelab short tunnel and airlock which have flown on SPACEHAB single module
missions before, there was an extended tunnel beyond the airlock and a 19-inch
(48 centimeters) tunnel extension built by SPACEHAB, Inc. to position the
SPACEHAB module in the optimal point in the Shuttle's cargo bay. Because the
single module was positioned further aft than on previous missions, the module
will be able to carry up to 4,800 pounds (2,177 kg) of useable payload up to
and back from
MIR.Equipment that was carried in the SPACEHAB
module on STS-76 can be categorized in
the following five types:

Russian Logistics: A double rack was
dedicated to some of the Russian logistics, including the gyrodyne and the
individual equipment and seat liner (IESL) kit. The gyrodyne was transferred by
the crew to and from
MIR to replace a used gyrodyne. The IESL kit was
transferred by the crew to
MIR to be available for use by Shannon
Lucid in case of an emergency return to Earth in a
Soyuz capsule. Three Russian storage batteries which
were returned to Earth from
MIR on STS-71
were mounted on the aft bulkhead of the SPACEHAB module. During docked
operations, the crew removed the batteries and transferred them to
MIR. Numerous Russian logistics items totaling
approximately 1,900 lbs. (861 kg) were carried in the SPACEHAB soft stowage
system. Items included food and water containers, clothing and sleeping
articles, personal hygiene equipment, a current transformer, and a
MIR supplemental kit. These items were transferred to
MIR by the crew.

EVA
Tools: Several soft bags were used to carry
EVA
support equipment. The equipment included Waist Tethers, Push Lock Tether Tools
and a 35 mm Camera and Accessories (Tools for 96 Bolts). Other Detailed Science
Objectives (DSOs) also were supported by the
EVA
equipment.

ISS Risk Mitigation Experiments (RME): The Risk
Mitigation Experiments hardware was carried in soft stowage bags and consisted
of the following items:
MIR Electric Field Characterization (MEFC) hardware,
and the
MIR Environmental Effects Payload (MEEP) attachment brackets.The MEFC experiment will
collect data on the internal and external radio interference in the 400 MHz to
18 GHz frequency band. The hardware consisted of a radio frequency spectrum
analyzer and power cable, an orbiter window antenna, and a payload general
support computer. The experiment hardware was removed from the SPACEHAB module.
Experiment operations were performed on the shuttle's flight deck then returned
to the module for return to Earth.The
MEEP experiment was designed to collect samples of
orbital and micrometeoroid debris and will be attached to
MIR during an
EVA
by the crew. The
MEEP attachment brackets will be clamped to external
handrails on
MIR and will remain there after their installation
during the mission.

American Logistics: About 15 full water bags
supplied through the shuttle's water system were transferred to
MIR. New film also was swapped for film already shot
aboard
MIR, and the docking module light and television
camera was returned to Earth.

Biorack: The European Space
Agency's Biorack experiment shared a double rack with the Life Sciences
Laboratory Equipment Refrigerator/Freezer (LSLE) in the SPACEHAB module. The
Biorack was a multi-purpose facility designed to enable biological
investigations on plants, tissues, cells, bacteria, and insects during
spaceflight. Its main purpose was to investigate the effects of microgravity
and cosmic radiation, particularly the effects of high-energy (HZE) particles,
on the development of these species. Eleven experiments were conducted during
the mission: three from the U.S., three from France, three from Germany, one
from Switzerland and one from the Netherlands.

The Life Sciences
Laboratory Equipment Refrigerator/Freezer (LSLE R/F) was a vapor
compression refrigerator which was carried in a double rack (with the Biorack)
in the SPACEHAB module. The LSLE R/F has flown five times on board the Shuttle.
Its internal volume was 2.5 ft 3 in.(80 centimeters), and could accept a
variety of racks, shelves and containers, and maintains internal temperatures
ranging from +10 degrees C to -22 degrees C. On
STS-76, the LSLE R/F carried processed
samples from the Biorack as well as the Johnson Space Center Frozen Stowage
experiment which included blood, urine and saliva samples from the
MIR-21 crew. These
samples were analyzed on Earth for evidence of accelerated renal stone
development and protein metabolism in microgravity.

The MIR Glovebox Stowage (MGBX) was carried in soft
stowage bags to replenish hardware for the MGBX located on
MIR. Equipment included in the MGBX includes the
Combustion Experiments Parts Box to be used with the candle flames in
microgravity experiment and the Forced Flow Flamespread Test, the Passive
Accelerometer, the Protein Crystal Growth Experiment, and the Protein Crystal
Growth Thermal Enclosure System Ancillary.

The Priroda
module blasted off from Baikonur on April 23, 1996 at 11.48.50
UTC, so 7 seconds later than planned. After an
automatic approach guided by the system Kurs
Priroda
linked up with
MIR complex on April 26, 1996 at 1243
UTC. It was quite an achievement to aim and dock a
mass of 20 tons (like a huge locomotive) with a precision of less than
millimeters.
Priroda
could take a breath for a while at the forward axial docking port of the
transition section There were no intentions to switch over to the manual remote
control TORU. At 12:35:30
UTC Yuri
Onufriyenko reported that
Priroda
was hovering for a while in a distance of 182 meters and that all was going
well. From that distance
Priroda
started the final stage of the approach and flawlessly docked with
MIR.
Priroda
remained electrically autonomous until the accomplishment of the repositioning
to the +Z axis.A part of the cargo of
Priroda
consisted of biological experiments for the production of clean medical
preparations and 900 kg equipment and experiments for the American astronaut
Shannon Lucid.
Priroda
has been equipped by a lot of equipment for scientific research of the earth
(all kinds of devices and camera's for remote sensing) and the
atmosphere.On April 27, 1996
Priroda
was redocked from the -X to the +Z axis. This operation began at 08:30
UTC and lasted two hours. The cosmonauts finished the
airseal checks and opened the hatches. The cosmonauts also took air samples of
the atmosphere inside
Priroda
for analyzes.

The launch of
Progress
M-31 has been put forward to May 05, 1996 at 07:04
UTC. The unmanned resupply vessel to
MIR delivered 1,140 kg of fuel and 1,700 kg of cargo
to the
MIR complex. It docked with
MIR on May 07, 1996 at 08:54:19
UTC, undocked on August 01, 1996 at 16:44:54
UTC and was destroyed in reentry over the Pacific on
August 01, 1996 at 20:33:03
UTC. The cargo had a mass of 2410 kg and consisted of
the normal cargo delivered by
Progresses:
water, fuel, letters, equipment, repair material etc.

Yuri
Onufriyenko and Yuri
Usachyov performed the second spacewalk on May 20,
1996 (5h 20m). During the
EVA
all went well and that what the crew had to do has been accomplished for 100 %.
The crew transferred a solar battery from the outside of the docking
compartment (SO) to the
Kvant1
(Module-E). For their work the cosmonauts used the Strela girder. Shannon
Lucid assisted the cosmonauts during the putting on and off
of their spacesuits. During the
EVA
she took care for the systems of the space station and the
communications.

The third
EVA by Yuri
Onufriyenko and Yuri
Usachyov occurred on May 24, 1996 (5h 43m). The cosmonauts
installed the new solar panel on the outer surface of
Kvant1,
connected the contacts and attended the deployment of that panel. This was also
a good performance. After returning inside
MIR the cosmonauts expressed their satisfaction about
the good co-operation with
TsUP during this work and also about the very good
construction of the new solar panel.

Yuri
Onufriyenko and Yuri
Usachyov conducted the fourth spacewalk on May 30,
1996 (4h 20m). The MOMS-2 camera (Modular Opto-electronic Multi-spectral/
Stereo scanner was installed on the outer surface of the module
Priroda.
The 2nd task was the installation of an extra handrail outside
Priroda
to facilitate
EVA's. The
EVA
passed without problems.

The fifth
EVA was performed by Yuri
Onufriyenko and Yuri
Usachyov on June 06, 1996 (3h 34m). At the outer surface of
the Module
Spektr
they replaced a cassette of the KOMZA-experiment (a Swiss experiment for the
study of inert interstellar gasses) and at the outside of Module-D (Kvant2)
they installed some detectors for space dust and space debris: an American
instrument and the SKK-11, a Russian made device. The
EVA
lasted 1 hour longer than had been planned. Yuri
Onufriyenko and Yuri
Usachyov needed for their work and movements considerably
more time than had been foreseen in the so called cyclogram for this
EVA.
The EVA cosmonauts gave instructions to Shannon
Lucid who was on duty inside the complex and observed the
EVA
through portholes.

The sixth and final spacewalk was again
performed by Yuri
Onufriyenko and Yuri
Usachyov on June 13, 1996 (5h 42m). They had to accomplish
some very strenuous tasks: the installation and deployment of the Ferma-3
girder construction at the outer surface of the
Kvant1
module and the repair of the Travers antenna (the huge SAR antenna on the
module
Priroda).
They deployed the 4 sections of the Ferma-structure until the desired length of
5 meters. The Travers radio locator antenna had not been fully deployed by
commands from inside the module
Priroda
and so Yuri
Onufriyenko and Yuri
Usachyov completed this manually during their
EVA.
The Travers was then operational. After this work they made their way back to
the airlock of
Kvant2.
This was not easy and went slowly. Back on board the cosmonauts quickly
recovered and expressed their satisfaction about the accomplished tasks but
also about the assistance they got from Shannon
Lucid being on command inside the complex. She had been busy
with camerawork and used all available films and cassettes.

The launch
of Progress
M-32 has been put back several times. The
Progress
M-32 had to deliver new supplies of water, fuel, oxygen, food, etc. to the
MIR space station. The reasons for the delays are two
failures with the
Soyuz-U rocket, which also is used for the launches of
Progress-M
ships. This freighter was launched from Baikonur on July 31, 1996 at 20:00:06
UTC.
Progress
M-32 docked at the
MIR station (-X axis, forward port transition section)
on August 02, 1996 at 22:03:44
UTC. Approach and docking were executed in the
automatic mode by the use of the system Kurs.

Protein crystal growth
experiments were done. More experiments in materials science using high
temperture melting oven "Optizon". Other experiments were Visual
Earth Observation and medical research.

The
Soyuz TM-24 was launched with the
carrier
Soyuz-U from Baikonur on August 17, 1996 at 13:18:03
UTC. Soyuz
TM-24 reached the planned orbit without problems and all systems worked
well. It docked at
MIR on August 19, 1996 at 14.50.23
UTC. Approach and docking took place in the automatic
mode with the system Kurs.

The
Soyuz spacecraft is composed of three elements
attached end-to-end - the Orbital Module, the Descent Module and the
Instrumentation/Propulsion Module. The crew occupied the central element, the
Descent Module. The other two modules are jettisoned prior to re-entry. They
burn up in the atmosphere, so only the Descent Module returned to
Earth.Having shed two-thirds of its mass, the
Soyuz reached Entry Interface - a point 400,000 feet
(121.9 kilometers) above the Earth, where friction due to the thickening
atmosphere began to heat its outer surfaces. With only 23 minutes left before
it lands on the grassy plains of central Asia, attention in the module turned
to slowing its rate of descent.Eight minutes later, the spacecraft was
streaking through the sky at a rate of 755 feet (230 meters) per second. Before
it touched down, its speed slowed to only 5 feet (1.5 meter) per second, and it
lands at an even lower speed than that. Several onboard features ensure that
the vehicle and crew land safely and in relative comfort.Four parachutes,
deployed 15 minutes before landing, dramatically slowed the vehicle's rate of
descent. Two pilot parachutes were the first to be released, and a drogue chute
attached to the second one followed immediately after. The drogue, measuring 24
square meters (258 square feet) in area, slowed the rate of descent from 755
feet (230 meters) per second to 262 feet (80 meters) per second.The main
parachute was the last to emerge. It is the largest chute, with a surface area
of 10,764 square feet (1,000 square meters). Its harnesses shifted the
vehicle's attitude to a 30-degree angle relative to the ground, dissipating
heat, and then shifted it again to a straight vertical descent prior to
landing.The main chute slowed the
Soyuz to a descent rate of only 24 feet (7.3 meters)
per second, which is still too fast for a comfortable landing. One second
before touchdown, two sets of three small engines on the bottom of the vehicle
fired, slowing the vehicle to soften the landing.

Soyuz TM-23 undocked on September 02, 1996 at 04:20
UTC, and made a small seperation burn at 04:24:40
UTC. The deorbit burn was at 06:47:20
UTC. The three modules separated at 07:14:36
UTC and the parachute deployed at 07:26
UTC. The landing was at 07:41:40
UTC, 107 km SW of Akmola in Kazakstan with Yuri
Onufriyenko, Yuriy
Usachyov and Claudie
André-Deshays aboard.